Blogs

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “How can I celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way this year?”

The noise, shopping lists, and busy schedules can cause us to lose the joy during the Holiday season. Here are some words to add meaning to our celebration of Christ’s birth.

The most important action word is to “Receive” the gift that God has offered. Jesus is God’s greatest gift to the world. Being receptive to this gift makes all the difference in having a meaningful celebration.

Another word to bring focus into the Holiday season is “Remember.” Take time to read about Christ’s birth in the Bible. Reflect on why Jesus came, and the miracle of His love.

The third word is “Recognize.” This involves coming to terms with the worth of Jesus’ birth. Ephesians 1:7 says about Jesus, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

If we receive, remember and recognize God’s greatest gift, our hearts will be filled with praise for God who provided what we need most in the Year of Exploration.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the relevance of the Gospel for every generation.

There is no generation in history, present, or future that can say they do not need the Lord. Jesus is the worthy Savior who came for all people in all generations of history. This is why we have the calling to pass along the Gospel to the next generation-to make His salvation known to future generations. His righteousness is what we all need, and His righteousness is applied to those who trust Jesus for salvation.

Psalm 22, verse 30b and 31 says, “Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

Methods of presenting the Gospel may change over time, but the actual message remains the same, and is changing lives daily from the inside out.

The relevance of the Gospel for every generation is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

2 The Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster, a 130-voice choir composed of singers in grades 2 – 12, will present a Celtic-themed Christmas Concert with guests The Irish Blessing Band and friends Sunday (Dec. 4) 4pm-5:30pm at Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster. More Info: MennoniteChildrensChoir.org

1 After 257 years, the Lancaster Public Library has decided to throw a birthday party for itself. The library is hosting a free, family-friendly birthday party tomorrow (Saturday, Dec 3) at 2pm which will include a story time, a birthday cake and giveaways. More Info: lancaster.lib.pa.us.

WJTL will be broadcasting live from Journey with Jesus at Ed’s Landscaping in Elizabethtown on Saturday, December 10th from 6pm-8pm. Journey with Jesus is a walk-through event that allows you to experience key scenes from the Life of Jesus. It’s a great event for the whole family that features live animals! You can also experience Journey with Jesus on Saturday, December 17th from 6pm-8pm. Ed’s Landscaping is located at 2623 North Market Street in Elizabethtown, just 2 miles from the square. Admission on a donation basis and all proceeds will be donated to the ministries of WJTL. More information available at 717-367-1006 or 717-226-3290.

We are in the sweet spot of a wonderful, festive season — fresh off of Thanksgiving and ramping up for Christmas! These holidays can bring out the best in us (generosity, hospitality, celebration) while also setting us up for feeling our worst (financial strain, relational stress). Thankfully, the same God who spent His first night on Earth in a manger also hears us from His heavenly throne.

I woke up this morning feeling like I wanted to begin the day with prayer. I have an energetic almost-2-year-old, Josiah, so I thought the best way to pray would be at my piano. He likes to play, too, and we usually can share–one of us on the low notes, the other takes the high ones. …That didn’t last long. My next idea was to try praying while coloring (an idea I got from the book Praying In Color). Josiah loves to doodle, so I drew our prayer requests: the sale of our house, success for my husband’s job and even a good day hunting. Josiah scribbled over each one with a black crayon. (Not a technique discussed in the book!)

So, my final approach was to try praying while vacuuming. This resulted in a meltdown from my little helper, who wants to vacuum–but is a few feet too short! At the end of it all, I wasn’t sure that my prayers were well composed…or even audible over all the racket! But, Bible verses I learned many years ago came flooding back:

Psalm 139:1-4

You have searched me, Lord,and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongueyou, Lord, know it completely.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

What an encouragement and relief! I needed those reminders and hope that they are helpful for you, too! Thankfully, God’s hearing and responding has nothing to do with how well I pray. He loves and cares for us and knows our hearts before we speak (or doodle or vacuum!) Much grace to you in this special season.

There are many opportunities if you are looking for somewhere/someone to spend this Thanksgiving. Here are some opportunities for food and fellowship on Thanksgiving Day that can be found on our Events Calendar at WJTL.com:

*Shiremanstown First Church of God-Thursday from Noon-2pm, 717-737-7600 (Free)

*Elizabethtown First Church of God -Thursday from Noon-2pm, 717-367-7060 (Free)